Children in Need sketch

[iank]

We need to stop watching, talking about, or even acknowledging this garbage.
Doctor Who ended in 1989.

[rushy]

What about the TV movie/McGann?

[iank]

Dude that was shit too. It was practically the pilot for Davies.

[Monster X]

Nov 18, 2023 21:00:08 GMT iank said:

Dude that was shit too. It was practically the pilot for Davies.

I suspect that Davies looked at the TVM and used it as a sort of guideline on how to make Doctor Who for the 21st Century;

Do's - Romance and snogging between Doctor and Companion, soppy, magical endings, cheesy 'modern' humour ("Oh great! I finally meet the right guy and he's from another planet!"), a more energetic, action orientated Doctor and a louder, showier version of the Master.

Don'ts - Doctor with floppy/long hair, wearing old fashioned clothes, previous Doctor's regeneration/handover into current version, excessive references to the past ( Daleks, Skaro, Gallifrey, Eye Of Harmony, Seal Of Rassilon, etc), half human on his mother's side. Elements of vintage/highbrow culture - Puccini's opera music, old Jazz songs, clips from Universal's classic Frankenstein (1931), reading HG Well's The Time Machine, name-dropping Leonardo DaVinci, etc.

I know a lot of folk despise the TVM and while I admit it is a far too Americanised for my tastes, I still find it superior to anything from Davies, Moffat or Chibnall.  The story is a bit naff but McGann was very convincing in the role.  Plus, this lead to McGann making 8th Doctor audio dramas with Big Finish - some of which are very good and feel much more like real Who than the modern BBC Wales series. 

[Bernard Marx]

Britain's most prolific right-wing establishment mouthpiece- The Daily Telegraph- have put out a puff piece praising Davies for this "progressive" approach.

www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/11/18/doctor-who-russell-t-davies-disabled-villain-trope/

Some highlights, given that it's paywalled:

Returning showrunner Russell T Davies has long felt uneasy about how Davros, embittered creator of the Daleks, played into the dated “disabled or disfigured villain” trope

...

The character first appeared in 1975 – a different time, of course, when storylines could peddle racist stereotypes and female companions ran around in leather bikinis “for the dads”. By seizing this opportunity to portray a younger, able-bodied Davros – pleasingly for fans, still played by actor Julian Bleach – Davies has moved the dial.

Yes. He's moved the dial from "limited but intelligent" to "expensive but f*ckwitted".

Also "long felt uneasy"? It can't have been that long. He re-used the Davros archetype only 17 years ago in John Lumic, and Davros himself 15 years ago. He's pulled this out of his arse to make himself look creditable to an unspecified audience.

It risked annoying Whovian purists – a social-media backlash began immediately – but as Davies explained in a behind-the-scenes interview: “There’s a problem with the Davros of old, in that he’s a wheelchair user who is evil. There’s a long tradition of associating disability with evil but time, society, culture and taste has moved on. When the world changes, Doctor Who has to change as well. Especially on Children in Need night, when issues of disability and otherness come right to the front of the conversation.”

The dexterity and verve of his writing ensured that it felt far from po-faced or worthy. Indeed, the subtext would have shot straight over many viewers’ heads. They could simply savour a bite-sized adventure which proved a highlight of the BBC’s annual charity telethon.

I'm confused. Where was the pro-disability subtext in that vacuous 5 minute special?

Only one box went unticked, with no women in this all-male three-hander. Davies addressed this by giving previous incarnation Jodie Whittaker an affectionate shout-out when Tennant referred to “this really brilliant woman”.

Quality is clearly irrelevant.

For a brief sketch, it achieved an impressive amount – certainly enough for Whovians like me to eagerly ponder. Such a perfectly judged debut for the Davies-and-Tennant dream team augured well, both for the anniversary specials and the rebooted era with Davies’ hand on the time-and-space tiller. Doctor Who’s wit and wonder is back. Allons-y.

"How much am I being paid for this?"

Telling how a paper this conservative took Davies' side on this. I suppose such vapid gestures bereft of intelligence suit the establishment very well after all...

[iank]

The c*ntiness is off the charts. Certifiably insane and evil.

[Deleted]

Nov 18, 2023 22:03:47 GMT Monster X said:

Nov 18, 2023 21:00:08 GMT iank said:

Dude that was shit too. It was practically the pilot for Davies.

I suspect that Davies looked at the TVM and used it as a sort of guideline on how to make Doctor Who for the 21st Century;

Do's - Romance and snogging between Doctor and Companion, soppy, magical endings, cheesy 'modern' humour ("Oh great! I finally meet the right guy and he's from another planet!"), a more energetic, action orientated Doctor and a louder, showier version of the Master.

Don'ts - Doctor with floppy/long hair, wearing old fashioned clothes, previous Doctor's regeneration/handover into current version, excessive references to the past ( Daleks, Skaro, Gallifrey, Eye Of Harmony, Seal Of Rassilon, etc), half human on his mother's side. Elements of vintage/highbrow culture - Puccini's opera music, old Jazz songs, clips from Universal's classic Frankenstein (1931), reading HG Well's The Time Machine, name-dropping Leonardo DaVinci, etc.

I know a lot of folk despise the TVM and while I admit it is a far too Americanised for my tastes, I still find it superior to anything from Davies, Moffat or Chibnall.  The story is a bit naff but McGann was very convincing in the role.  Plus, this lead to McGann making 8th Doctor audio dramas with Big Finish - some of which are very good and feel much more like real Who than the modern BBC Wales series. 

The TV movie is actually quite cultured compared to the new series. The movie references all those things while Army of Ghosts has the characters watching Eastenders. I rather enjoy the movie and I plan to watch it New Year's Eve.

[Monster X]

Nov 18, 2023 23:34:38 GMT @kengrubshaw said:

Nov 18, 2023 22:03:47 GMT Monster X said:

I suspect that Davies looked at the TVM and used it as a sort of guideline on how to make Doctor Who for the 21st Century;

Do's - Romance and snogging between Doctor and Companion, soppy, magical endings, cheesy 'modern' humour ("Oh great! I finally meet the right guy and he's from another planet!"), a more energetic, action orientated Doctor and a louder, showier version of the Master.

Don'ts - Doctor with floppy/long hair, wearing old fashioned clothes, previous Doctor's regeneration/handover into current version, excessive references to the past ( Daleks, Skaro, Gallifrey, Eye Of Harmony, Seal Of Rassilon, etc), half human on his mother's side. Elements of vintage/highbrow culture - Puccini's opera music, old Jazz songs, clips from Universal's classic Frankenstein (1931), reading HG Well's The Time Machine, name-dropping Leonardo DaVinci, etc.

I know a lot of folk despise the TVM and while I admit it is a far too Americanised for my tastes, I still find it superior to anything from Davies, Moffat or Chibnall.  The story is a bit naff but McGann was very convincing in the role.  Plus, this lead to McGann making 8th Doctor audio dramas with Big Finish - some of which are very good and feel much more like real Who than the modern BBC Wales series. 

The TV movie is actually quite cultured compared to the new series. The movie references all those things while Army of Ghosts has the characters watching Eastenders. I rather enjoy the movie and I plan to watch it New Year's Eve.

"The movie references all those things while Army of Ghosts has the characters watching Eastenders". 
Cheers, Pepsi - you make the point much better than I did. 

[Deleted]

Nov 18, 2023 20:59:23 GMT rushy said:

What about the TV movie/McGann?

Certain things bother me. I think what they did to McCoy was a disgrace. It seems to find its feet however when McGann actually appears. He has great chemistry with Daphne  even if I don't believe in all the kissing and romance. 

[cyberhat]

Nu Nu Who, the Keef Starmer version of the programme, has begun with RTD's immense self-regard blowing up in his stupid face. Our introduction to the this glorious new pissney world spectacular adventure. For that reason alone, this should now be a time for celebration on here.

[iank]

I doubt it. They'll all bow down soon and take it up the ass like they did last time.

[cyberhat]

Even if it's temporary, take the win

[Bernard Marx]

Nov 19, 2023 4:27:55 GMT cyberhat said:

Even if it's temporary, take the win

Even if the backlash is temporary, so might well be the era’s “success”. The upcoming specials will be a moderate ratings success but could well slowly sink, and once Tennant buggers off again (if not beforehand!), Davies will double down on his predilection for identitarian pseudo-progressive politics. If Davies keeps repeating himself after this and pissing people off in a similar fashion- and he will- he won’t have anyone to tell him to course-correct.

The mainstream media are trying to spin this era as a resurgence in Doctor Who’s popularity, but everything feels tired. Contrary to 2005, this is no longer ‘new’.

[iank]

I really just wish it would die now. It's a f*cking embarassment.

[Bernard Marx]

(Credit to Tardisposting)